Why it is important that your charity embraces digital tools

Almost every aspect of our lives has been transformed by technology in the last few years. We live in a world where everything can be controlled with the click of a mouse. Here is where the digital era was born. Therefore, it is time for charities to improve their technology in order to keep up with the rapid pace of technological development.

According to the Charity Digital Skills Report 2021, over two thirds (67%) of charities now see digital as a priority for their organisation. Digital fundraising has become a priority for half of all charities. There are still critical digital foundations that just under a third of charities need to build, with 29% of charities looking to improve their strategic approach and 28% looking to improve infrastructure or systems. The biggest problem charities face when fundraising is the lack of access they have to the latest technologies and digital tools. Charities and trustees must enhance their knowledge and tools to keep up with the rest of the world. Every member of a charity from volunteer to trustee must gain digital skills to stay present in this era.

However, with that being said, there are signs of progress with 60% of charities now having a strategy in place for digital, which is a positive improvement on last year. In the meantime, the percentage of charities deeming themselves to have excellent basic digital skills has almost doubled. Many of the biggest charities you can think of outsource their digital services. Charities especially over the last 12 months are using digital to reach new audiences. With the right Digital tool, you will be able to attract the right audience and improve your chances of building partnerships with the right people by incorporating digital expertise into fundraising campaigns.

Most charitable organisations want the same goal – to be able to connect as quickly as possible with people that are willing to help, as well as with those who are needing the help. The fact is that it is not possible to achieve this without having a digital tool that can provide what you require. Embracing digital tools like Microsoft Dynamics 365 can help your charity overcome these challenges and provide a platform for future growth. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the charity sector in the last year. Some charities have seen an increase in demand on their services and many more are struggling to raise funds, as well as finding it more challenging than ever before to retain volunteers and find new supporters. Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based solution that can be fully customised, scalable, has flexible licencing with discounts for charities and is regularly updated.

Digitalisation only requires minimal expenditure depending on your requirements, that is why it should be embraced. We recommend that charities do their research and choose the right digital tool for them that’s within their budget. By making the effort to embrace new digital tools, trustees and volunteers will easily be able to keep up with changes and advancements. It is possible for charities to have more sustainable funding sources through the digital world. It enables large scale campaigns with the broadest reach to the largest potential audience. In fact, it is a cost-effective way to remain connected with your charity and aid with fundraising.

We would be happy to talk to you about embracing Microsoft Dynamics 365 as your digital tool. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our m-hance team for a chat to discuss your charity’s specific requirements as well as our suite of charity-specific Microsoft solutions for charities of all sizes.

Authored by

Racheal Hehir

m-hance’s Marketing Executive